Lewis Hawkes in Court Over Terror-Linked Edinburgh Stabbings

EDINBURGH — A 36-year-old man has appeared in court facing five charges of attempted murder “aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection” following a horrifying spate of stabbings across Edinburgh that are suspected to be driven by anti-Muslim hatred.  

Lewis Hawkes, from Edinburgh, stood before the capital's Sheriff Court in a private hearing on Monday. Alongside the attempted murder charges, he faces one count of assault and robbery, two counts of breach of the peace, and two counts of culpable and reckless conduct. The Crown Office has confirmed that all charges carry the aggravating factor of a terrorist connection.  

Hawkes did not submit a plea during his appearance. He was committed for further examination and remanded in custody, with his next court date scheduled within eight days.  

The charges stem from a chaotic and violent Friday evening that left five men injured and a city deeply shaken. Specialist counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation into the attacks, which unfolded across multiple locations in the capital over the course of roughly an hour.  

The terrifying sequence of events reportedly began around 8:30 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. in the Sighthill area. Reports from the scene indicate two men were brutally stabbed as they left the Broomhouse mosque in the city’s south-west. Violence then erupted further north, with a taxi reportedly vandalized at a petrol station on Telford Road, before the rampage continued toward the east.  

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At approximately 9:30 p.m., police responded to further attacks in the Leith Walk and Ferry Road areas.

Harrowing footage circulated online over the weekend allegedly showing a bare-chested white man roaming the streets wielding a large bladed weapon, while another clip appeared to show a man violently battering the door of a local pizzeria.

Armed police utilizing stun guns ultimately apprehended a suspect on Leith Walk as the area was placed under heavy lockdown.  

Police Scotland confirmed that five men—two aged 22, and others aged 24, 27, and 39—sustained a range of injuries during the spree. Three victims required hospital treatment, though authorities stated none of the injuries are life-threatening.  

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The Muslim Engagement and Development (Mend) organization stated that several of the injured individuals are Muslim. In a powerful show of solidarity over the weekend, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney visited the Broomhouse mosque.

He revealed that he had spoken to some of the victims, noting that they were not only physically injured but "deeply traumatised" by their experiences, and emphasized that the Scottish government stands in absolute solidarity with the targeted communities.  

Acknowledging the shockwaves rippling through the capital, Superintendent Neil Wilson of Police Scotland recognized that public anxiety is understandably "heightened."

“It is important that all communities across Scotland feel supported, protected and able to go about their daily lives without fear of hatred or intimidation,” Supt Wilson said.

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He confirmed that police have already proactively engaged with more than 90 faith-based organizations and local businesses since Friday. “We are carrying out a community impact assessment and will closely monitor the situation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all communities, and we are prepared to respond promptly to any emerging issues.”